A pint of honour

Sir, – One evening this past summer, I had journeyed long across the country to arrive at a rural pub adjacent to one of Mayo’s lakes.

Imagine my disappointment when I learned that cards were not accepted as payment for my much-needed refreshment. My petitions that I had been there two years previously and was known to the owner appeared to be getting nowhere as the proprietor could not be raised on the phone. It seemed as if either an hour’s diversion to an ATM or a glass of plain water was in my future.

Suddenly, from a couple of seats down at the bar, a voice chimed in, “I’ll buy you a drink!” My spirits lifted and then the gentleman beside me and, totally unbidden, discreetly pushed a €50 note across the counter and sotto voce let it be known that I may repay him when I could.

Needless to say, a great evening was had, and the next one too. – Yours, etc,